The UK government has announced plans to implement an overnight social media curfew for teenagers aged 16 and 17. Under the proposed measures, popular apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube would be inaccessible by default between midnight and 6:00 AM.

The initiative aims to improve teenagers' focus, sleep quality, and family life by limiting late-night social media use. In addition to the curfew, the government also intends to have addictive features like auto-play and infinite scroll disabled by default. These proposals follow a June announcement that banned under-16s entirely from a range of platforms.

While the government states these measures will enhance well-being, some campaigners believe they do not go far enough. Ellen Roome, whose son died in 2022, expressed concern that teenagers can easily opt out of the curfew by adjusting their account settings, comparing it to "offering a 17-year-old a bottle of alcohol and then moving it slightly out of arms reach."

Professor Lorna Woods of Essex University suggested the policy is a response to widespread concerns from parents and child safety advocates regarding the prolonged engagement of young people with their devices and its potential impact on sleep. The government's proposals add to a growing landscape of online safety regulations and tech company initiatives, including parental controls and child-specific versions of online services.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has previously indicated a preference for age verification to be managed by device manufacturers rather than solely by social media platforms. Apple has recently begun implementing such device-level age checks on its latest operating systems for iPhones and iPads.

Baroness Kidron, a vocal advocate for safety and age assurance measures at the device level, criticized the government's approach. She argued that the focus should be on preventing "tech from putting toxic products in the hands of children" rather than restricting children's access to technology.

Online safety minister Kanishka Narayan defended the government's actions, asserting that the combination of the curfew and the disabling of auto-play features would make the UK the most robust place globally for regulating tech companies. He emphasized that these measures are crucial for ensuring young people get adequate sleep, maintain focus on their education, and spend more quality time with their families.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the proposed changes are fundamental to supporting a "happy, healthy and fulfilling adult life" for young people. The government's ongoing efforts aim to create a safer online environment, though the effectiveness of opt-out features remains a point of contention among stakeholders.